This week was a relatively small haul with 10 titles (5 Marvel and 5 DC/Wildstorm), remarkablly four of them were first issues! Overall it was a pretty good week, with only one regrettable purchase.
Enjoy!
The Reading Order
SHIELD # 1
AVENGERS ORIGIN # 1
NEW AVENGERS: LUKE CAGE # 1
WOLVERINE WEAPON X # 12
UNCANNY X-MEN # 523
BATMAN AND ROBIN # 11
RED ROBIN # 11
SUPERMAN SECRET ORIGINS # 5
The UNREAD (from this week and previous weeks)
BATMAN CONFIDENTIAL # 43
CINDERELLA FROM FABLETOWN # 6
FLASH SECRET FILES AND ORIGINS 2010 # 1
SUPERMAN # 698
STAND: SOUL SURVIVORS # 5 OF 5 FINALE
AMERICAN VAMPIRE #1
BRAVE AND BOLD #32
SPIDER WOMAN #7
AZRAEL #6
SHIELD #7
IRREDEEMABLE #12
ADVENTURE COMICS # 512
INCORRUPTIBLE # 4
TALISMAN #5
The Good
NEW AVENGERS: LUKE CAGE # 1 (w: John Arcudi/a: Eric Canete) is fantastic. The story has an involved plot with authentic dialogue (i.e., captures the modern personas of the characters) and page after page of action. There are the requisite pages of Jess & Cage bantering in homage to Bendis, but even these mundane pages move the story effectively. Canete’s artwork is fun and works well with the story. There is also a nice mix of the Heroes for Hire, Power Man Luke Cage and the modern Avenger Luke Cage both of which show up in the issue. Arcudi and Canete do a great job making the reader believe that these two distinct imaginings are the same man. Luke Cage #1 is a very good start to the mini-series. Grade: A (story: A/art: A)
UNCANNY X-MEN # 523 (w: Matt Fraction/a: Terry Dodson) continues the “Second Coming” crossover. The Mutant-centric mega-event rolls on, with Fraction at the helm. There are a handful of X-Villains lurking on one side and the X-men (ever feuding amongst themselves) on the other, while Cable and Hope are still on the lam. There is a brilliant, almost Joss Whedon-esque quality to Fraction’s approach to writing Hope that captures the innocence, desperation and violence of the character. Uncanny X-men #523 is another excellent installment in the “Second Coming” story arc. Grade: A (story: A/art: A)
BATMAN AND ROBIN # 11 (w: Grant Morrison/a: Andy Clarke). The cover blurb proclaims: “The Return of Bruce Wayne Begins Here!” which is silly since the actual story started in the previous issue, but go figure. “The Return” continues to be absolutely ridiculous and strains credulity no matter how much you are willing to suspend disbelief for a comic. That being said, the rest of Batman and Robin #11 is really good. Even the part about Robin’s insta-spine replacement which has been the second most ridiculous thing in the series (“the Return” being the first of course) has a delicious pay-off in this issue. It’s interesting how Morrison can characters at once completely alien, mysterious (and sometimes uninteresting) like Sexton has been and flip a switch and turn them into a viable (if not dumbed-down, from the mystery) part of the story. The issue starts with a character much like Sexton, who is going through some strange ritual and then heads for Gotham, and like Sexton, really leaves you not caring very much. Flip a few pages in and Sexton, teamed with Robin, is interesting as he fights beside and then is confronted by the young Robin. What does that mean? Should Morrison leave off the obscure, uninteresting and usually pointless intros and skip to the watered down generic comic characters? Probably not, but it was a very interesting parallel that leapt to the forefront in Batman and Robin #11. As mentioned earlier, the real pay-off comes in the Talia/Robin-spine sub-plot, the premise for the “Batman vs. Robin” storyline. The last page, is really inspired. Clarke’s artwork also dazzles, all at once being unique while conjuring imagery reminiscent of Frank Quietly or John Cassaday. Grade: A- (story: B+/art: A)
SUPERMAN: SECRET ORIGINS #5 (w: Geoff Johns/ a: Gary Frank). The re-imagining of Superman’s earliest adventures takes a decisive and exciting turn as Luthor teams up with Lois’ father, General Lane and create Supes’ first real challenge. Secret Origins #5 features the origin of a new Metallo and all the force muster the General can bring to bear. The introductory sequence is a great showcase for Frank’s artwork. Grade: B+ (story: B+/art: B+)
WOLVERINE WEAPON X # 12 (w: Jason Aaron/a: Ron Garney) is still a good comic but is not as good as the last issue. While absolutely fantastic, Wolverine Weapon X #11 resonated with a slightly derivative after-taste of any and every Terminator movie. Weapon X #12 is even more derivative of Terminator and just as emulative of the classic X-Men’s “Days of Futre Past. Still, the strength of the story lies in the characters: Wolverine (present day), Captain America (Bucky), and even the future-girl who is playing the role of “John Connor” in Aaron’s version of Terminator. There is a mystery (the identity of the resistance leader in the future, it’s probably not John Connor…) and more to future-girl than meets the eye. Sure the story is familiar, but if you can get past that, Aaron & Garney deliver a satisfying issue. Grade: B (story: B-/art: B)
AVENGERS ORIGIN # 1 (w: Joe Casey/a: Phil Noto) is an interesting modernized re-imagining of the Avengers origin. It unfortunately starts with a lot of Loki dialogue, which on its best day (think JMS) is a bitter pill to swallow. The introduction of the original Avengers: the Hulk, Thor, Iron Man and the Pyms is well done, though the story is widely carried by Noto’s artwork. From Thor’s tunic to Iron Man’s clunky Golden Avenger armor (Mark I to the movie initiated), Noto’s new approach to the old costumes is remarkable. You probably know the story, while new depths are woven into the character’s back stories, nothing in Avengers: The Origin #1 departs from that classic tale (that’s a good thing). Grade: B (story: B-/art: A)
SHIELD # 1 (w: Jonathan Hickman/a: Dustin Weaver) is an interesting idea. Hickman introduces Shield as a secret society that dates back to ancient Egypt, with some familiar faces through history and the Marvel U. There really is a lot going on in this first issue, with the introduction of the secret society and a handful of characters you’ve never heard of. Overall, Shield #1 is a good start, not great. There is some potential for the series to be a breakthrough, unique take on the universe (like Planetary), but there is also a lot of room for Shield to very quickly become irrelevant. For example while the story moves swiftly through time introducing the organization, but unfortunately the framing story of the “main character” is thin and seems either contrived or rushed. Grade: B- (story: B/art: C)
The Bad
RED ROBIN #11 (w: Chris Yost/ Marcus To). For a league of secret ninja assassins, Ras al Ghul’s League of Assassins aren’t very sneaky and don’t really kill all that many people. In fact they’re a lot more like flashy stormtroopers than deadly ninjas. Tim Drake’s misguided adventures as “Red Robin” continue and get a tad bit more ridiculous. Drake takes the whole “going solo” act too far and Red Robin #11 plummets from an interesting read to a below average comic and one of the worst in the Bat-stable. Grade: D (story: D/art: B)
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